The Reds have started off an important winter by showing interest in free agent shortstop Didi Gregorius, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter).
Now 29 years of age, Gregorius spent his first five seasons as a professional with the Cincinnati organization and briefly debuted in the majors there in 2012. He ended up being traded away to the Diamondbacks and then on to the Yankees, where he established himself as a high-quality piece up the middle.
That’s not the only upper-tier free agent that has been linked to the Reds already this offseason — though others have been connected on a somewhat more speculative basis. Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer recently highlighted backstop Yasmani Grandal as a possibility, writing that “all signs point toward a serious run” at securing his services. Young corner outfielders Nicholas Castellanos and Marcell Ozuna were also cited as possibilities.
MLBTR recently released its ranking of the top fifty free agents this winter. We predicted both Gregorius and Grandal to land with the Reds, banking on the organization to make good on its oft-stated intention to open the pocketbook up this winter.
Gregorius graded out as our 12th-best free agent. We toyed with the idea of guessing he’d settle for a one-year, make-good contract since he wasn’t in top form late in 2019 after returning from Tommy John surgery. But we ultimately guessed that he’d be able to secure a three-year contract. There are relatively few teams in obvious need of a regular shortstop, but there’s also a shortage of supply outside of Gregorius.
Yankees gonna get Merrifield or Lindor?
Neither.
Yankees wouldn’t do what it takes to get Lindor
Yankees don’t HAVE what it takes to get Lindor……
Multiple young, controllable players with upside.
I mean, of course they do. Just nothing that would make any sense for them. I’d have to think that Gleyber Torres would bring back Lindor with ease; it would just be a dumb decision.
@Vandals Took The Handles
Are you expecting prospects or guys already in the majors with 3-4 years left? I always like to record how crazy the fan’s demands are vs what they actually get..
Torres now has more trade value than Lindor.
The players that the Yankees will offer will not meet the needs of the Indians. What the Indians will ask for, the Yankees will say no. No trade will happen between the two teams.
@hockeyjohn
Except the Yankees won’t be offering anything for Lindor. It’s a non-issue.
@hockeyjohn
Like @Mo4evr said, it was never going to happen anyway. I just wanted to know what @Vandals Took The Handles thought the “ask” would be for Lindor so if/when he’s traded to another team I could see how far off he was, above or below what he suggested, This is a not a “rumor”. It was pure speculation from an idled writer. I seriously doubt Lindor is on Cash’s radar. Not that Lindor isn’t great but he’s not a real need for the Yanks.
Spot on-blaster
Moever,
Isn’t that what I said? I stated, “No trade will happen between the two teams.”
Southbeach,
It also has been all over social media from many, many Yankee fans.
@southbeachbully;
For a year-and-a-half of Trevor Bauer, the Indians got….
o A veteran power-hitting OF for the 2019 stretch run
o A young power-hitting DH (and soon to be 1B) with 3-4 years of control
o Two young pitchers MLB-ready pitchers to work with – and they have a sensational record in working with young pitchers
o An infield prospect from the low minors
Lindor just won the Gold Glove @SS. He’s a true 5 tool player.
The Indians FO is extremely smart. They will rightfully bring back more for Lindor then they got for Bauer.
To add to what Vandals posted. If the Indians FO does not get what they want, Lindor will remain with the Indians.
@hockeyjohn
You really think Csahman or Hal or any owner or front office person would go to social media and discuss their plans to acquire Lindor?? Cmon dude.
It was an offering by a writer. I think Sherman, who speculated that the Yanks SHOULD go after Lindor, not that he heard from a source that was their thoughts or intentions, It’s now become what everything is in 2019. A narrative created by a writer to draw us in to read his articles. How incredible it is that these things have life and that soon, Yank’s NS Indian’s front-office heads and Lindor’s agent have to answer questions about a Yank’s trade for Lindor. And when he’s traded to a team other than the Yanks the narrative will be that Cashman was conservative with his prospects and balked at picking up Lindor and that somehow that’s indicative of a team that doesn’t really want to win. It”s bogus and some people gobble it up like Jellybeans during Easter.
@Vandals Took The Handles
Your comparison between the value the Indians will get in a Lindor trade is “a sack of sheeeeet” as the floor and sky’s the limit.
“For a year-and-a-half of Trevor Bauer, the Indians got…….
o A veteran power-hitting OF for the 2019 stretch run-
Yasiel Ouig who gave them 2 homers and a .800 OPS in 49 games and is walking as a FA
o A young power-hitting DH (and soon to be 1B) with 3-4 years of control=
Frammil Reyes who hit to a .772 OPS in 51 games.. He hit 30 + this year and has 4 or 5 years of control so that’s good.
o Two young pitchers MLB-ready pitchers to work with – and they have a sensational record in working with young pitchers-
Logan Allen had a small sample size with a 5+ ERA and a entire AAA season with a 5.85 ERA in about 80 innings. He was a late top 100 prospect so that’s not nothing.
o An infield prospect from the low minors- Victor Nova is a 19 year old in rookie ball who so far hasn’t shown much with the bat and hasn’t appeared on a top 100 prospect list yet. Of course, that doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t be highly regarded in 2-3 years but as of now, is just one of many that have undistinguished debuts in the lowest rung of minor league ball.
To sum it up a decent controllable bat in Frammel, a top 75-100 prospect in Allen, a non-elite prospect SS in Nova and a non-top 100 pitching prospect in Moss who doesn’t have the luster but might prove to be a back of the rotation starter, which for the Indians, is nice to have.
But for Lindor of course the Indians are going to have to demand more high-level elite prospects. A GM should be fired if he doesn’t get much more than that. So the Bauer trade is a horrible starting point for a “floor” to get for Lindor. Wouldn’t even be considered.
Lindor ain’t going nowhere.
Yankees have 1 title in 20 years. Only 5 active players won a ring for the Yankees. What a great time to hate the worst team in sports history!
2000 and 2009 in the last twenty. That’s two titles more than your A’s, buddy.
As an A’s fan, that hurts
don’t forget the Yankees won after years of mediocre baseball in the 80s and early 90s. but again most here probably weren’t alive or cared much to remember the leagues having just two divisions. however you hating a team that has won decades over by being well run and having an owner that would do anything to bring the ring is a shame. George had his faults but worked his butt off and reinvested in his team. trusted people like George Michael. they didn’t stay small to get $$ from other teams and not reinvest like you see now. so how about respect the ability and dislike your own owners not mimicing.
Steinbrenner took careless whisper seriously in the 90’s.
@jopeness
Can you truly say that the Yanks don’t reinvest their money into the team like most if not all others? Does NOT signing the biggest FA each year the measuring stick? Certainly it can be said that investing in position players isn’t as much of a requirement when you’ve graduated Torres, Judge, Sanchez, Andujar to the majors and successfully bought low on Voit, Didi, Hicks and Urshela?
People forget how thing began in the mid-90s. Yanks didn’t spend big on long-term FA. They drafted the core 5 and once the talent graduated they supplemented vet stars via trades and FA. Once the core-5 entered into FA they retained them all which was the start of the salary boom that truly separated them from even the other big market teams. And once the farm stopped producing they went into grabbing all of the FA’s that were soon to be in their 30s. Years later they were bloated with several players in their mid to late 30s who were still performing but past their prime. The Yanks need to be in a situation where they don’t have to have a $300 mil payroll just to stay competitive, and still not win.
Yanks need to continue to build the farm, know which ones to trade and which ones to keep, make smart buy-low trades and be ready and willing to ponce whenever an elite need is on the FA market. In 2019 the elite FA’s are Cole, Stras, maybe Wheeler and maybe if their bold and willing to take a chance, Grandal if the trade value for Sanchez is worth it.
@Strike Four… worst team in sports history? Hahahahahahahaha, okkkkkk guy
For what? I’ll take Torres and DJ up the middle over pretty much any combo on another team. How about strengthen areas of weakness. Getting Stanton when you already have judge and getting ellsbury when you already had Gardner have both been dumb moves. 1b, CF, and pitching. That’s what the Yankees need.
I predicted the Brewers in the FA contest but the Reds also make sense. Wouldn’t be surprised if he returned to NYY or even if he signed with a re-building club like Baltimore or Detroit on a 1 year deal to re-build his value.
I don’t think rebuilding clubs should block the upward path of their youngsters by bringing in outside help even though they “need” it.
Interesting point ScottCFA. This rebuild stuff has got way out of hand.
Rebuilding really has gotten out of hand but I understand why it’s being done. Maybe the rules need to change to keep teams at least somewhat competitive even if they aren’t going for it every year. Draft lottery might help a bit. Funny thing is teams like the A’s and Rays haven’t really gone through a massive rebuild in quite awhile yet they are remaining competitive with lower payrolls. They just don’t seem to make big mistakes, trade well, and draft well. They are always retooling. That’s being said they haven’t won it all either. I’m ok with retooling but the complete tanking of teams like the Cubs, Astros, and others I’m not a fan of
I love seeing the Rays doing well, yanks are my team but when I see teams like the royals or rays do well the love of the game of baseball surfaces for sure. even the twins after all those rough years I respeft
If there are no ‘youngsters’ capable of playing winning ML baseball, why not? The time is right this year for the Reds to get two position players in free agency. Something they have not done in ten years. Pitching is set. Reds need hitting. Grandal, Castellanos can hit the F’n ball in GABP.
Rebuilding clubs also only care about the youngsters they perceive as part of their long term plan. That’s why they gave Richie Martin 309 plate appearances.
They didn’t care at all about his development because he isn’t part of their long term plans at short.
Rebuilding clubs care about chopping payroll to stuff the owners pockets
@Phiilies2020
I really think the Yanks didn’t offer the QO so that they can see what the market offers before doubling back to the Yanks. But Didi is the best SS on the market by far, even with the off season he had/rehab.
I think it’s a two factors, they respect and like Didi, so respectivefully didn’t attach a QO. so he could get a solid interest and two, they felt the market would be less and could if possible sign him for less per year on a 3 yr deal or so. i doubt the former but it’s nice to think cause i know the team loved him and fans really respect him
I was pissed they moved him in favor of Cozart back in the day. Please bring him back!
Didi will go back to the dbacks. Yankees can finally put glayber at SS
You think? Ahmed plays SS in AZ and a good one at that
Just won the Gold Glove.
But that doesn’t matter to those that grew up playing computer baseball. To them, all that matters about a C, SS, and CF is their offensive stats. Which work out great in rotisserie baseball. Not so much in MLB.
He’s really good
Gleyber is not nearly as good defensively at SS as DiDi. It’s not even close. And for a team that isn’t strong defensively, they don’t need to be downgrading their defense at SS. DiDi should have been their highest priority out of all their players going into free agency.
Good. As it should be. I think it’ll work out between that original 4 year/$70M prediction most folks had and the 3 year/$42M projection of MLBTR. 3 years/$40M w/ a $5M buyout on a $18M mutual option.
High risk, HIgh reward type of player.
If he returns to 2017-2018 great deal, if he repeats 2019, stinks.
I dont think the risk will be all that high considering he is probably not gonna get an extremely large contract. He might get, what, 3 years?
I’m hoping Cincinnati spends their money on Grandal and Castellanos because I really want him in a Brewers uniform nest season. Didi fills the offensive void left by losing Grandal and solid defense provided by Arcia.
Gregorius was traded to the Indians, and then the Diamondbacks
@tribe in connecticut
It was actually a 3 team trade (Cincy/Dbacks/Indians) that happened all at once so he was never really an Indian. He was then dealt in another 3 team trade a year or two later (Tigers/Dbacks/Yanks_).
They’re interested in Didi, I’m interested in a pizza.
Gregorius, Grandal and Ozuna? Damn Cincy go hard.
SS Gregorius
C Grandal
1B Votto
3B Suarez
RF Aquino
LF Ozuna
CF Senzel
2B Peraza/Galvis/maybe a FA? or Senzel to 2B and Winker to LF, Ozuna to CF?
That could be a scary lineup.
I love Winkers bat, but he’s a huge liability in the outfield.
Forget Ozuna, get Corey Dickerson, & add Neil Walker, mayb Gennett as bench players, but lineup u described would b awesome
Yankees aren’t getting anybody anymore!! Let’s face Yankees Universe!! If the Steinbrenner’s don’t wanna win they should sell the team!!
It’s happened. Super spoiled Yankee fans have gone full blown Stephen Root. and William Forster had a child and he’s now grown and beating people about the head with his red swingline stapler.
First of all, I really think the Yankees have already shown they don’t need Didi to win. Played over half the season without him and really couldn’t tell a difference when he came back. That’s why they aren’t going to offer anything to him. Simple logic. Second, the only free agents that can make a huge difference this year are going to come with a contract along the lines of 8/$250mil+ and if the past has taught us anything, these long term contracts tend to turn sour on about year three! Then you’ll be one of the wise asses on here talking about how stupid the Steinbrenner’s were for signing that deal! The FO fully knows they’re one or two pieces away from another dynasty but they aren’t going to saddle themselves with albatross contracts like they did during the early 2000’s. Strasberg is a distinct possibility along with Wheeler, but I really feel Cole will go to the Phillies or the Braves if they want to block them. Either one will regret years 4-8 of that deal when he’s on the operating table every year trying to rebuild that arm! Anyone willing to pay out a contract like that to pitchers now deserve every thing they get. Since MLB cracked down on PED usage while other sports still let them juice freely, the players can’t hold up like they used to. Enter the bidding wars at your own risk because about 6-8 quality years from a superstar is all you’re gonna get and the teams drafting them and getting arbitration years are getting the quality years. Everyone else gets the scraps after they’re washed up.
He’ll be a Phillie
I feel like if Didi and teams think he’s worth around $42M over 3 years today, why not take a 1 year/$13M deal with a mutual option for $15M w/ a $1M buyout and take a chance on the open market or signing an extension for 3 years/$49M w/ a $2M buyout on a $17M option next season. I think if he goes the one year route he gets the contract he wanted from Season 2019’s outset before surgery derailed him. He can get 1 year for roughly the Qualifying Offer or 2 years for $28M or so or 3 years for $40M or so…but if he bet on himself for a year he could add tens of millions to his guarantee in terms of average annual salary and total years committed.
Yankee fans are pathetic. They have a good team but cry about them not spending money for players. Spending money on players hasn’t helped Padres, Phillies, Angels, Rangers, and more teams who have gone “all out” in free agency. Yankees did very well last season even with all the injuries. Just chill Yankee fans, you guys are set offensively. Only SP and maybe a piece or two in the bullpen, and your team is lethal. You have enough offense on that club to supply two teams. What more can you ask for?
The play of Joey Votto may be the key to the Reds success in 2020. SS is not their biggest need. The OF still looks weak. I think they need to trade off Raisel Iglesias while they can.
What happened at the beginning of last season?. The Reds were not a bad team yet they had a horrible start. .
Who cares about the Yankees? Shouldn’t the topic of conversation in this thread be about a possible reunion with Didi and the Reds, instead of the Evil Empire?!
Unless we get a CF, then get Mike Moustakas for platoon at 2nd, and Grandel for catch. This is the best bang for the buck.